Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World.
by: Paul Cartledge
Published by: Vintage Books
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Reviewed by Steven King, MBA
Daily, Americans are bombarded by reminders of the human life that is spent when two countries cannot tolerate one another. Unfortunately, the ravages of war are impassioned topics of many people – all across the lifespan. To understand the warrior mindset, one must dial the clock back to perhaps the greatest battle of all time: The Battle of Themopylae. This infamous turning point in history shows the resolve that a few hundred brave Greeks employed to make a valiant last stand against Persia. If nothing else, this battle paints an amazing portrait of true courage and valor in the face of tragic odds.
Paul Cartledge, a professor of Greek History at the University of Cambridge, weaves an interesting story about this battle in this book. This compelling read paints in vivid detail the training that these brave Greeks underwent to become battle ready. One interesting fact is that ancient Greek males actually trained fully nude. I had no idea that the word gymnasium actually derives from the Greek word gumnos, which means “stark-naked.” It is refreshing that this etymological derivation is not the common practice of gym attendees here in the West.
Perhaps his professorial influence, and the 18 books he has published previously, overshadows the text too much. The readability is satisfactory – yet, it’s easy to become bogged down in the details. Extreme history buffs will be well satiated by Cartledge’s thorough examination of this battle. It seems his intent is to leave no stone unturned as he examines the minutiae of the battle with painstaking detail. This should not come as a surprise when one understands that Professor Cartledge completed his doctoral thesis in Spartan archeology.
This work felt as if I were unabashedly leafing through a textbook. The ample bibliography, thorough appendices, and photographs would have been welcomed in any of my world history coursework. Perhaps this book will ultimately bless those with a penchant for such non-fiction. It would be discourteous to try and read this book in a few sittings – rather; one should absorb its tenets as if preparing to write an academic paper on the subject.
Armchair Interview says: A scholarly look at an ancient battle.
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